learn how to cook

I eat out a lot, I avoid the kitchen like the plague. I hate cooking, I’ve never been good at it and I’ve never had the slightest clue what I am doing. I have messed up countless recipes, spent so much money on ruining groceries and I am 26 years old and live on my own and I should really know how to cook for myself by now. I want to be a better person.

So far this semester I’ve been trying to cook out of a cookbook and it’s going well! At first foods here and there would burn or be too tough but I think I’m finally getting the hang of it!

About two weeks ago the chicken I cooked turned out perfect! I was so happy and so was my boyfriend. Last week I cooked a sort of Asian dish that called for Ramen noodles! A college kid’s dream, right?!

I’m getting the basics down, eating out less, and spending less on outside food. Next I hope to learn some awesome Thai recipes from my mom!

Now if there’s one thing I tend to screw up a lot less, it’s baking.
I fell in love with the blueberry coffee cakes at Starbucks a few years ago, they are just simply amazing. If cheesecake, regular cake, and blueberries had a threesome, this would be their lovechild.
I actually found the recipe for it at a grocery store this week, and the ingredients seem easy to find, the instructions simple enough.
I hope it turns out delicious :P

My mom has been trying to teach me everything she knows, but I keep saying later, later, and later never comes. I know how to cook a few things,but even those things I screw up sometimes. Is time for me to learn even if takes me all my time.

It didn’t actually turn out that bad. Now I have to learn how to make one that I can actually flip without tearing it apart. Maybe I can add some more to it. So far it consists of some organic eggs, vine tomatos, green bellpepper, and a bit of green onion.
As for the cooking technique, well…. All in due time.

My homemade salsa:
Tomatoes, Cillantro, Green onions, and part of a jalapeno pepper (add as desired). Usually your sense of scent will tell you when you have the right amount of each ingredient. Much better than the mushy stuff I used to buy.
(Pictured above is my salsa)

Ceviche:
(immitation) crab, shrimp, tomatoes, cillantro, and add either lemon or lime (I usually add lime) to marinate it (but not Too much). Eat it with restaurant-style corn chips or whatever kind of corn chips you like (I like Tostitoes Scoops because it’s easier to scoop up the ceviche with). I also love to eat it with a layer of avocado, it makes it absolutely delicious!

Today I bought two Rachel Ray cookbooks, since she is more of a ‘cook’ than a ‘chef’ and I’m thinking that her stuff might be a little easier for me. Now I just have to go through and pick out some stuff to make…can’t wait to get started!!!

I’ve set back the thai food project until I can actually find the damn ingredients. Some of this stuff is not in your usual supermarket. So far though, I’ve learned to make Caviche (pictured above), and I’m also making my own homemade salsa. I got tired of that mushy stuff, and you know what they say, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

Currently i am not too happy with my progress on this goal..i really need to get in the kitchen and just experiment more until i get comfortable with it..

I did not know it was possible, but I burnt soup.